Additionally, the trails left behind frequently zig-zag and turn abruptly, making it appear as if the stone suddenly veered in a different direction while racing across the so-called Racetrack Playa.
An even greater mystery is that some trails don’t have rocks. Occasionally, a particular stone will disappear and rematerialize years later in a distant location, without a trail.
Researchers have tried to figure out what the magic behind the "sailing stones" really is. They’ve tagged and tracked stones for years, but with no luck.
The stones might sit dormant for years before suddenly traveling great distances seemingly overnight, which makes documenting the process extremely difficult.